Jeandré Potgieter, from Elspark congregation in Germiston, has become a local hero after he scaled a two-metre gate to rescue a woman from a burning house. He was also named Lead SA’s Gauteng Youth Hero for the month of May.

The 15 year-old, who suffers from asthma, said he was not scared when he ran into the burning house on Saturday, 16 May 2015. “It was adrenaline that took over me as I didn’t want the lady to die. But I can only thank God that he protected me and kept his hand over me.”

Jeandré’s grandfather, Deacon Corrie Potgieter, and his uncle, Cornél, are members of the Elspark community policing forum (CFP). When they heard the emergency call about the fire, the three raced to the house.

“We were the first members of the CPF to respond and arrive on the scene. When we arrived, a lady came running towards us shouting that the resident of the house was still inside. My grandfather and uncle tried to open the gate but at that stage as it was locked.”

Jeandré says he realised it was now or never and jumped over the precast walling. “I first tried to go through the front door but the flames were blazing and it was too hot for me to enter. I then saw a side gate and ran around the house to try and enter through the back.”

The kitchen door was open, he continued, and he could see the owner of the house, a widow in her 40s, standing in her kitchen. “There were flames around her, so I ran in and just dragged her out. By then the other people arrived on the scene. Some of them came to help me as we exited the kitchen. With the grace of God the kitchen roof collapsed just as we got outside.”

The fire spread quickly through the house, with not much remaining apart from the walls and a few scorched onions, said Jeandré, adding that both him and the lady, a widow in her 40s, were taken to hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation. “After receiving hospital treatment, we went back to the house and the lady’s son thanked me for saving his mother; he was very grateful.”

Following the incident, Jeandré has received much attention in local media. His mother, Vanessa Potgieter said he has been over whelmed with all of the attention as he is a shy child. It was never about the media attention, she said, it was just an act of saving a life.

“Jeandré is a very humble child. He is very caring and selfless. He is always willing to help others and if the opportunity arises he goes with my father to assist with the local CPF. We are fortunate to be living with my parents.”

Vanessa said even if a call comes in for help at midnight, Jeandré will be the first to wake up, ready to help. “He has a passion to work with people. As a single mother I realised that having such a child made the journey not only rewarding but made me thank the Lord even more for blessing me with such a courageous young man. I pray that he will be an example for his siblings and other children. I am truly blessed.”

She said when she received the call to go to the house; she was not sure whether to scold her son for not thinking about his own life or thank him for what he did. “In the end I can only applaud his act as that is the way he was taught. Never ever put your own needs first. Always think of others and what they need.”

After Jeandré was discharged from hospital on the same day of the fire, he started, with the help of his uncle, that same night, asking residents to donate clothes as the family had lost everything in the fire. “When he talks about what that day, he talks about it with tears in his eyes. The day he received his Lead SA certificate was one of the proudest days of his life,” said Vanessa.

She added: “We were raised to know that we need to honour God and thank him for all our blessings. I can only encourage my son to grow up in the work of the Lord. He was confirmed this year and I can only thank his leader for laying a solid foundation in him.”

Singing his grandson’s praises, Corrie said: “Jeandré has from a very young age always helped and attended church functions with me as I help with the parking at the major events. He is always eager to learn the work and I pray that one day he may be a servant for our father.”

It is wise from time to time to reflect on the vow we made to God on the day of our Confirmation: “I renounce Satan and all his work and ways, and surrender myself to You, O triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in belief, obedience, and the earnest resolution to remain faithful to You until my end. Amen.”

It consists of two specific and opposite actions: renouncing Satan and surrendering to the Lord. Hence we understand that one action alone is not sufficient; we have to make a decision. We cannot be neutral toward God, just as little as we can be neutral where Satan is concerned.

Paul picks up on this concept— the necessity of making decisions—in our Bible text and exhorts us to “be renewed”.

This is referred to in another Bible verse: “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12: 2). Hence a complete transformation is necessary, similar to the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

Core Points

Let us make a firm decision for the triune God

A complete transformation of our old nature is necessary, similar to the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

A renewal of the spirit of our mind is possible through a deep prayer life, genuine friendship and fellowship with our brothers and sisters, and the elimination of habits and dependencies.

Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” — Mark 10: 48–49

Message

Love holds human beings in esteem. A blind man, Bartimaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. He was handicapped, poor, dirty, and despised. Jesus passed by with a large group of people around Him. Bartimaeus cried out. He called for Jesus. Other people shouted at him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more. Jesus stopped, ordered the beggar to be brought to Him, and asked him what he wanted. Bartimaeus did not beg for alms as usual. He wanted it all and asked for what seemed impossible: healing! And Jesus helped.

Of all the various aspects of these events, we direct our attention to the esteem that Jesus showed Bartimaeus in the way He treated him. Despite the crowd’s contempt for the beggar, Jesus helped him. Jesus’ esteem was rooted in His love—a love that excluded no one.

Core Points

Esteem for others is based on love. Jesus esteemed the despised man. Let us follow His example.

A lack of esteem for others can be demonstrated in extreme situations, but also in daily life. This hurts others and can destroy a person’s sense of self-worth.

If ever our sense of self-worth has been damaged, we find comfort in the knowledge that God esteems and loves us.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. — Ephesians 5: 15−17

Message

Let us be wise and understand the will of God. This Bible text from Ephesiansis highly current and causes us to ask ourselves: “How can we as Christians live and act properly in the light of the gospel in our society?” The answer is: it is part of our personal responsibility to God to conduct our lives as wise people and not as fools.

Core Points

We act wisely if we strive first and foremost for eternal life, align our lives by the gospel, and humbly and completely rely on the grace of God.

We are wise when we:

Absorb the word of the sermon as a message from God addressed to us.

Allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit of God and trust in divine inspirations.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. — Romans 12: 21

Message

We cannot conquer evil through retribution, but rather by countering it with good. There is a great deal of evil in the world. No one would argue that. However, evil not only comprises those things which can be clearly recognised as destructive forces, but also some very general influences and attitudes that are likewise contrary to God’s will. There is a very real danger that we might also be infected by these things. However, let us not allow ourselves to be infected by evil, and let us not take a neutral attitude toward it either. Let us instead counter evil with good. This Bible text can thus be interpreted as follows in our modern understanding: Do not let evil into your heart, but rather counter it with godliness.

After remarking on the relationship between the law and the gospel as well as on the enduring election of Israel (Romans 1–11), Paul provides instructions for Christian living (Romans 12: 1–15; 13). Paul begins his line of reasoning with the words: “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men” (Romans 12: 17).

Core Points

Those who repay evil with evil can be overcome by evil. Let us confront evil by countering it with good. Let us counter: